2 months later

As of yesterday I've been here for 2 monthes. I didn't even notice because I was working on my big research paper. The topic was agribusiness in Costa Rica and I specifically choose to discuss sustainable development. Very interesting. I actually enjoyed doing all the research. I think it's the most time I've ever put into a paper. It was in Spanish and 10 pages long. I am very proud and would post it for all to see, but you wouldn't be able to read it most likely. So I'll just tell you a little. It was a very interesting topic because as North American consumers it is very easy to buy without thinking of the process behind how it gets to us. There are so many problems with the "export-or-die" approach in commodity driven countries like Costa Rica. Because of the high demands for big profits that usually just go to transnational companies, usually foreign which means the money doesn't stay in Costa Rica, there are innumerable problems. Problems with health from pesticide abuse, problems with deforrestation that blows the equilibrium of lots of things, problems with low wages long hours and poor working conditions, problems with poverty, and all to bring the pineapples, coffee, bananas, and whatever else safely to a grocery store near you. I proposed solutions like organic agriculture, fair trade, and land reform, which are all really good, but can't happen unless people and government have a desire to change. And that's the problem. We get too comfortable enjoying what we have that we forget that everyone doesn't enjoy the life we live. And it's not that we should spread our lifestyles to them, but maybe we should pay a little more attention, care more for lives, do something in the name of justice to prevent thousands of people dying from pesticides or hunger or at early ages from working 11 hours each day. That's the latest I'm dealing with. What happened to blissful ignorance when I knew nothing of all these issues? Now I know, and I can no longer be the same person. I have to change the way I live, the way I act, but what does this look like? How can I make a difference that will bring justice to workers? How can I live to make a difference in anything? And so my story goes...